Wire forming machine and method



Sept. 13, 1938. c. c. CF QUZ AN V WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD 5Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Filed Dec. 12

CHARLES c. CEUZAN INVENTOR ATT RNEY Sept. 13, 1938.

c. c. CRUZAN WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.12,- 1936 CHARLES CZCRl/ZAN lNVEgNTOR AT ORNEY Sept, 13, 1938. c. c.CRUZAN I WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 12, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES CCRUZA/V INVENTOR BY We ORNEY Sept. 13, 1938. c.c. CRUZAN WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 12, 1936 v 5Sheets-Sheet 4 CHARLES C. CRl/ZAN INVENTOR BY A ORNEY Sept. 13, 1938. c.c. CRUZAN WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 12, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 5 a: M WM% k Ea-TW j Patented Sept. 13, 1938 PATENT OFFICE2,130,318 WIRE FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD "Charles 0. Cruzan,Poughkeepsie,

N. Y., assignmto Trussell Manufacturing Company, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application December 12, 1936, Serial No.115,489

25 Claim.

This invention relates to wire forming, generally, but more particularlyto the manufacture of binders made up of wire which is bent into zigzagshape to form spaced, connected ribs or prongs and thenben-ttransversely to shape such prongs into open rings ready to receive thematerial to be bound.

The usual practice has been to form the zigzag strip, to cut that in thelengths required for different binders and then to transversely bendthese flat cut lengths into the partly completed ring form ready toreceive the material for binding. In cases where the binding elementswere not immediately required, the flat strip coming 16 from the zigzagmachine has been wound in coils ready to be subsequently cut and shapedto ring form.

Such methods involve considerable handling and require careful packingof the partly completed binder elements.

Objects of this invention are to avoid as much as possible theobjections and difiiculties of present methods, such as outlined, and toaccomplish the change from the flat strip to the ring constituting shapeas a more or less continuous operation.

Other related objects areto enable the binder material being formed fromthe fiat zigzag strip directly into partly closed ring shape and to thenI be stored in continuously lengths of the partly' closed rings, whichmay be cut at any time in any desired binder lengths.

Further objects are to provide simple, practical and efiicient mechanismfor accomplishing the results mentioned and which may be readily adaptedto present machines, and equipment.

Other desirable objects and the many novel features of the invention areset forth or will appear in the course of the following specifica- 40tion. a

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrate a desirable and at present preferred embodiment of machineinvolving the invention, but the structure may be modified and changedas regards this particular disclosure, all within the true intent andbroad scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of the machine, shown as operatingon flat zigzag stock 50 coming from a zigzag forming machine orfrom a,reel holding a supply of such material.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken horizontal sectional view as onsubstantially the plane of line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a broken vertical sectional view taken on substantially theplane of line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 3a is an enlarged broken sectional detail of one of the feed barsand cooperating hold down.

Figure 4 is a further enlarged broken cross sectional detail of theupper and lower die-mechanism, as on line 4-'-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged broken partial plan view as on substantially theplane of line 5-5 10 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is,a broken detail of'the upper die structure viewed in thedirection of the arrow 6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a broken sectional view of the cut- 5 off mechanism taken onsubstantially the plane of line 1-1 of Figure 1. h Figures 8 and 9 arebroken vertical sectional details taken on substantially the lines 3-8and 9-9 of Figure 7. 20 In the general view, Figure 1, the fiat zigzagstrip stock is indicated at I0 coming from a supply reel or directlyfrom a zigzag forming machine or from other source, such stockbeing sup-I plied to the machine as required, without strain- 25 ing or stretchingthe zigzag material.

Entering the machine, the strip stock passes into a horizontal guideway23 through which it is advanced step by step by a feed wheel 24, havingrelatively wide faced teeth, Figure 2, entering 30- the spaces betweenthe adjoining ribs of the strip and alseco'nd feed wheel 25 in anadvanced position having narrower teeth similarly entering the spacesbetween the ribs, which at this advanced station have been bent into theopen 35 v ring form.

The strip material is additionally controlled and fed, in the field ofbending operations between feed wheels 24 and 25,.Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5,by an intermediate and two side feed bars, 26

and 21,28, sliding in guide slots 29 and 30, 3| and ratchet toothed asindicated at 32 in Figures 3, 3c and 5, to enter between and accuratelyengage and feed the double strand ribs or prongs 33 of the strip. Thesefeed bars or slides are yieldingly' pressed upwardly by spring plungers34, Figures 3, 3a, against a hold down plate 35, yieldingly depressed bysprings 36 and cross slotted at 31 to form reversely faced ratchet teethreceiving the cross strands or prongs of the stock and holding same inthe advanced position, during return stroke of the feed bars.

In Figures 3a and 4 the hold down shoe 35 is shown grooved at 29a, 30a,am, in line with grooves 29, 30, 3|, to receive the feed bars in 4 inadvancing their reciprocating and up and down movements the stock stepby step.

The two feed wheels 24, 25 and the three feed bars 28, 21, 28 aresimultaneously actuated from a common feed slide designated 38 andreciprocated by a roll 38 entered in a pocket provided betweenupstanding lugs 48 on the slide, Figures 2 and 3. This slide hasasimilar pocket 41 receiving a roll 42 on the lower end of a lever 48pivoted on the same center as the shaft 44 which carries the feed roll24, said lever carrying a spring pressed pawl 45 engaging a ratchet 48on the feed roll shaft.

The second feed wheel 25 is similarly operated from the slide through arock lever 41, carrying a spring pawl 48 engaging ratchet wheel 48 onthe shaft 58 of feed wheel 25. The feed wheel shafts 44 and 58 arejournaled in bearings provided by brackets 5|, 52 stationary on thetable or base portion of the machine.

The three feed bars 28, with cross slots as indicated at 53, Figure 3,to receive a cross key or lug 54 secured on the feed slide 38 at 55,Figure 2.

Thus, with each forward movement of the feed slide 38, the two feedwheels 24, 25 and the threefeed bars 25, 21, 28 will be advanced asimilar extent to accurately hold and advance the zigzag strip stock.

The shaping and forming is effected progressively by a stepped die 55carried by the ram 51, cooperating with the lower die or anvil 58.

The anvil 58 as particularly shown in Figure 5, forms in effect acontinuation of the bed of the strip guide 23 and is shown as havingoifset downwardly curved steps at opposite sides over which the prongsand the connecting portions of the zigzag strip are progressivelybrought down to the desired open ring formation.

This bending is accomplished in four successive stages. Thus, for theprong ends, there are three successively deeper steps 58, 88, 8|, forthe prong tips 33 and three successively lower curved steps 82, 83, 84,for the connecting portions 85 between adjoining prongs. The finalcurvature of the anvil at 85, immediately adjoining the last two steps8!, 84, as shown in Figure 4, is-approximately that of the desiredpartly closed ring shape 81. The complementary upper die 58 hascorrespondingly shaped faces 58a, 88a, 81a, for cooperation with theprong bending steps 59, 88, 6|, correspondingly offset concavely curvedfaces 82a, 83a, 84a, cooperative with the back bending faces 52, 53, 64,and final bending surfaces 88, cooperative with the final bend contour88 of the anvil. In addition, the upper movable die member carries a,spring plunger 88 to engage and yieldingly force the presser plate 35down over the positioned stock.

It will be noted in Figures 4 and 6 that the bending steps or shouldersof the anvil and cooperating faces of the plunger, constituting thebending dies, are of substantially the same curvature but locatedsuccessively closer together so that at each stroke the tips of theprongs and the back connections will be brought successively closertogether. Thus, both the tips and the base ends of the ribs are firstbent to the proper curvature and then inner portions of both ends of theprongs are successively bent to progressively bring the curved endscloser together.

In this manner the rings are gradually closed I or brought to morenearly closed relation without the need of undercut dies or othercomplicated die formations.

21, 28 are provided The hold down plate 35 is shown in Figure 2 asreduced in width and correspondingly stepped at 18 where it extends overthe stepped portion of the lower dlememberto hold down the work andleave space at opposite sides of the same for the bending surfaces ofthe upper die member.

To provide a hinge point where the ring elements of the binder will bendon closing to the final ring form. the upper die is shown in Figure 4 ascarrying a creasing point H which will form a crease or indentation 12in the back or top intermediate portion of the ring. This creasingpoint, it will be noted, comes opposite the yieldably supported centerfeed bar 28 in the slot 28, which enables the ring material to yielddownwardly under this creasing action.

Necessary co-relation between die plunger and feed slide is effected inthe construction shown by having the plunger operate the roll 38 throughwhich reciprocation is imparted to the feed slide. As shown in Figure 3,roll 38 is carried by one arm 13 of a bellcrank operating on center 14,the other arm 15 of which carries a roller 15 positioned betweenfianges11, 18 on the side of the plunger. As indicated in Figure 6, thesefianges are relatively and both together adjustable by being carried byslides 19, 88 having tongues 8|,

,82 engaged in an inclined way 83 in the side of the plunger and held indesired adjustments by securing screws 84. Upon loosening one or theother or both of these screws, the plates 18, 88 may be shifted to widenor narrow the space between the roller actuating flanges 11, 18, or tobodily raise or lower both these flanges in respect to the plunger. Thusthe stroke of the feed slide may be regulated to compensate for wear inthe mechanism or irregularities in the zigzag stock or to effect propertiming.

The lower die or anvil is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as extended somedistance beyond the actual forming portion to serve as a guide rail overwhich the stock will smoothly advance and, if the finished stock is tobe wound in reels or the ,like, this guide rail may be extended intonear proximity to the reel or other stock gathering or accumulatingdevice.

In the machine here shown the formed stock is automatically cut inpredetermined lengths by a sliding knife 85, Figures '7 and 8, operatingthrough a cutofi slot 88 in the stock guiding rail or extension of theanvil 58 and actuated by a pivoted push link 81, Figure 8, which can bedepressed against the tension of a supporting spring 88 by a push downfinger 88, Figure 9, so that the free end of said push link will be inline with and engaged by an undercut catch lug 88 on the slide 8|. Thisslide is projected by engagement of a roll 82 on the plunger with anupwardly extended inclined cam shoulder 83 on the slide and returnmovement of the slide is effected by a spring 84, Figure 7. Thus thecutoff actuating slide is reciprocated for each reciprocation of theplunger. The actual operation of the cutter, however, is dependent uponthe positioning of the push link 81 in front of the abutment 88 on theslide. The return of the cutoff knife is effected by spring 85 shown inFigure 1 as acting against a base extension 88 of the cutter blade.

The positioning finger 88 which determines the operativeness of thecutter is shown in Figure 9 as a lever pivoted at 81 and yieldinglysupported in an upper position by spring 88. Running over the top ofthis positioning finger is a sprocket chain 88 carrying one or morerollers I88 adapted to engage and depress the finger to cause the on theshaft I03 which carries the lower sprocket I04 for this chain. The uppersprocket I05 is indicated in Figure2 as adjustably secured at l 06 in aslotted bracket I01 so that chains of different lengths and withdifferent numbers or spac-' ing of control rollers I may be readilysub-' stituted.

To control the feed wheels 24,25 and prevent any overrunning movementsof same, the shafts 44 and 50 carrying these wheels: may be acted uponby adjustable frictional spring brakes such 'as shown at I08, Figure 9,and represented by these same numerals in Figures 2 and 3.

The stock is advanced through the machine in a way toprevent opening upor distortion of the loops, by the two feed wheels 24 and 25, located atopposite sides of the punch and by the three feed bars 26, 21, 28 andcooperating hold down plate 35, for advancing, guiding and holding thestock in the region of the bending dies. The toothed feed bars andreversely toothed hold down, advance and hold the strands of the stockin parallelism, right up to the moment of bending. The two side bars 21and 28 are shown as extending up into the stepped portion of the lowerdie or anvil and the intermediate feed bar 26 as extending up into theguide rail portion of the anvil, actually beyond the last bending 1stage. The toothed positioning and holding plate 35 is shown asextending fully beneath and beyond the dies. With this absolute controlof the stock the machine may be operated at high speed and produce auniform high grade product.

While the E shape form of partly closed ring, as shown in Figure 4, isdesirable, it will be appreciated that the final shape of ring formed onthe machine may be varied as required. The creasing has the desirableeffect of slightly spreading and thereby releasing the formed materialof any grip on the anvil or mandrel, en-

abling it to feed smoothly away from the dies. The second feed wheel 25takes the product away as fast as it is finished.

In Figures 2 and 3 a yielding spring hold down finger is shown at H0having a toothed portion Mi overstanding and yieldingly engaging thestrand-s of the stock at a point above the feed bars 26, 27, 28, andjust behind the yielding hold down plate 35. This construction andrelation also aids in the proper feeding of the ma- I terial.

In the present illustration the completed stock is automatically severedin predetermined lengths and may be discharged in such lengths intocontainers located to receive the same. If desired, however, the formedstock may be kept in continuous lengths, as by winding the same in loosecoils and then be severed in desired lengths at any subsequent time. Themachine shown may be readily combined with existing equipment. Thus, forexample, it may be associated with the zigzag forming machine so as totake the strip directly as it is originally formed. By continuouslyforming the zigzag strip directly from the fiat to the ring shape, muchtime and handling is saved and additional time is saved and desiredaccuracy is maintained by automatically cutting the binding ringmaterial right on the guide rail extension of the die on which it isshaped.

The teeth 32 of the reciprocating feed bars 26,

21, 28 are shown in Figures 3 and 5 as ratchet teeth with the abruptshoulders of the same forwardly in the direction of stock advance sothat in the forward stroke, the feed bars will positively advance thewire strip a definite amount and so thaton the return stroke,.these barscan slip back under the stock for a fresh hold. The

teeth or notches 31 in the under face of the hold down plate 35 areshown as reversely .faced ratchet teeth; that is, with theabruptshoulders of the same at the back, toward the left in Figure 3, so as toprevent retrograde movement and to hold the strands in place in theiradvanced relation while the feed bars are retreating to take the nexthold on the stock. By this combination of reversely faced teeth on feedbars and hold down, the bars operate to feed the stock forward and leavethe same located in the notches in the hold down and the latter servesto'hold the stock so positioned while the forming dies are operating andwhile the feed bars slip back to take hold for the next advance. Theratchet teeth of the feed bars are of further advantage in holding the vstrands in parallelism as'they are bent in successive steps, starting atthe outer or free ends at the edges of the strip and working inwardtoward the center, Figures 4 and 5.

It is realized that many changes may be made, within the broad intentand scope of the invention. Terms employed herein have, therefore, beenused in a descriptive, rather than in a limiting sense, except aspossible limitations may be imposed by state of the prior art. P

What I claim is:

1. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for flat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide. a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for effecting cooperative action of .said dies andmeans for effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guideto said cooperating dies, including feed devices toothed to engage thestrands of said zigzag wire strip and located at opposite sides of saidcooperating dies to thereby engage and position the strands of thezigzag strip both before and after the forming operations of the dies.

2. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for fiat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide, a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for effecting cooperative action of said -dies, meansfor effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guide tosaid cooperating dies, including a movable feed member toothed to engagethe strands of a zigzag wire strip and a yielding hold down platebetween said dies and stepped accordingly to hold the stock in placeclosely adjacent the stepped bending surfaces, said hold-down platebeing recessed to receive and hold the strands of the strips advanced bysaid toothed feed device.

3. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for flat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide. a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for effecting cooperative action of said dies and'meansfor effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guide tosaid oooperating dies, including reciprocating feed bars operating insaid guide and the die at the end of the same and toothed to engage thestrands of the zigzag strip.

4. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag'wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for flat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide, a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for effecting cooperative action of said dies, meansfor effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guide tosaid cooperating dies, including reciprocating feed bars operating insaid guide and the die at the end of the same and toothed to engage thestrands of the zigzag strip and a hold down plate above said feed barsand recessed to receive the strands of said strip.

5. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for flat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide. a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for effecting cooperative action of said dies and meansfor effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guide tosaid cooperating dies, including a feed wheel toothed to engage thestrands of said zigzag wire strip.

6. A machine for forming the strands of a zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising a guide for fiat zigzag wire strip, a die havingstepped bending surfaces at the end of said guide, a companion diehaving cooperating stepped bending surfaces opposed to those of thefirst die, means for eflecting cooperative action of said dies and meansfor effecting advancement of zigzag wire strip through said guide tosaid 00- operating dies, including feed wheels at opposite sides of saidcooperating dies and toothed to engage the strands of the zigzag stripbefore and after the forming operations. 7

'7. A machine for forming the strands of zigzag wire strip into ringshape comprising an anvil having stepped bending surfaces for theopposite edge portions of the wire strip and spaced successively closertogether, a cooperating die having correspondingly spaced steppedbending surfaces for cooperation with the stepped bending surfaces ofthe anvil. means for effecting relative approach and separation of thedie and anvil and means for intermittently advancing zigzag wire stripbetween said cooperating die and anvil, including movable feed devicesat the opposite faces of the zigzag wire strip and toothed to reverselyengage individual strands of said zigzag strip from opposite sides ofthe same.

8. A machine for forming fiat strip stock transversely into ring shapecomprising cooperating dies stepped to progressively transversely bendthe stock into desired ring conformation, a guide for directing the flatstrip stock to said dies, a rail forming an extension of and projectinga considerable distance away from one of the dies and about which theformed ring shaped stock is guided and directed an appreciable distanceaway. from said dies and feed means for advancing the flat strip stockthrough the guide to the dies and for advancing a length of the formed'strip over said rail away from the dies. p

9. A machine for forming flat strip stock transversely into ring shapecomprising cooperating dies stepped to progressively transversely bendthe stock into desired ring conformation, a

guidefor directing the flat strip stock to said dies, a rail forming anextension of and projecting a considerable distance away from one of thedies and about which the formed ring shaped stock is guided and directedan appreciable distance away from said dies, feed means for advancingthe flat strip stock through the guide to the dies and for advancing alength of the formed strip over said rail away from the dies and acutofl slide cooperating with said rail to effect severance of theformed strip material.

10. A machine for forming flat strip stock transversely into ring shapecomprising cooperating dies stepped to progressively transversely bendthe stock into desired ring conformation, a guide for directing the flatstrip stock to said dies, a rail forming an extension of and projectinga considerable distance away from one of the dies and about which theformed ring shaped stock is guided and directed an appreciable distanceaway from said dies, feed means for advancing the flat strip stockthrough the guide to the dies and for advancing a length of the formedstrip over said rail away from the dies and controllable means forautomatically severing the formed stock on the rail in differentselected predetermined lengths.

11.A forming machine of the character disclosed comprising an anvilhaving a rounded head portion with an intermediate recess, a resilientlysupported feed bar operating in said recess and a companion diecooperating with said head portion to bend stock thereabout and having acreasing ridge in line with said recess for creasing the stock over saidresiliently supported feed bar.

12. A machine of the character disclosed comprising a stepped reducingdie and a companion die having correspondingly stepped cooperatingsurfaces, a reciprocating feed bar operating in the intermediate portionof said first die and feed bars operating inflthe stepped portions ofsaid first die at opposite sides of said first feed bar.

13. In combination, a reciprocating punch head, a bending die carriedthereby, a companion relatively stationary bending die, a guide forapproaching strip stock between said bending dies, a slide operating inthe general plane of said guide, operating connections from said punchhead to said slide, reciprocating feed bars operating in said guide andactuated by said slide and rotary feed devices operated by said slide atopposite sides of said dies.

14. In a machine for operating on zigzag wire stock; a guide for zigzagwire strip stock, reciprocating feed bars operating in said stock guideand having ratchet teeth to engage the wire strands of the stock,arranged with the abrupt shoulders of said ratchet teeth forwardly inthe direction of feed and a hold down over the stock guide havingreversely faced ratchet teeth with the abrupt shoulders of the samerearwardly of the direction of feed, to receive the strands advanced bythe feed bars and to then hold such strands in advanced position whilethe reciprocating feed bars retreat to take fresh hold on the stock. I

15. In a machine for operating on zigzag wire stock, a guide for zigzagwire strip stock, reciprocating feed bars operating in said stock guideand having ratchet teeth to engage the wire strands of the stock,arranged with the abrupt shoulders of said ratchet teeth'forwardly inthe direction of feed, a hold down over the stock guide having reverselyfaced ratchet teeth with the abrupt, shoulders of the same rearwardly ofthe direction of feed, to receive the strands advanced by the feed barsand to then hold such strands in advanced position while thereciprocating feed bars retreat to take fresh hold on the stock andmeans for mounting said feed bars and hold down in resilientlycooperating relation separable to admit advance of the stock and returnmovement of the feed bars.

16. In a machine of the character disclosed, the combination ofcooperating forming dies for transversely bending strip stock intoring-like conformation, means for intermittently efi'ecting cooperativeaction of said dies, a knife for severing the formed stock, areciprocating slide, a dispiaceable operating connection between saidrev ciprocating slide and knife and timing means operating insynchronism with said dies after a predetermined succession ofoperations of said dies for positioning said operating connection toefiect actuation of said cutting knife from said reciprocating slide.

17. In a, machine of the character disclosed, a guide passage forenclosing and directing strip stock, cooperating bending dies at the endof said passage for transversely bending the stock issuing from saidguide, one of said dies being in the form of a rail with a rounded headportion about which the stock is bent and extending as a guide rail awayfrom the cooperating bending dies for a considerable distance andthereby serving to hold and guide a continuous length of the formedstock.

18. The method of forming a ring binder element which comprisesintermittently advancing a fiat zigzag wire strip over the head of aguide rail and progressively bending the edge portions of said zigzagstrip into approximate ring shape engaged beneath the head of said railand severing predetermined formed lengths of said binder material onsaid guide rail.

19. In a machine of the character disclosed, a guide for strip stock andopposed holding and feeding means for stock in said guide, including areciprocating feed bar operating in said guide and toothed to engage andpositively advance strands of zigzag wire strip stock on movement in afor ward direction and to disengage said strands on movement in thereverse direction and an opposed member reversely toothed to permitforward movement of the wire strands advanced by the feed bar and tohold said strands in advanced position in the return movement of thefeed bar.

20. A machine for forming a zigzag wire strip, including feed mechanismtoothed to engage the strands of the zigzag wire strip andintermittently operating to positively advance the engaged strands ofstock a uniform distance and intermittently operating forming dies forprogressively shaping the advanced zigzag wire strands to ringlike form.

21. The method of progressively forming to ring stock, a guide forzigzag wire strip stock, a reciprocating feed member operating on thestock in the guide and having ratchet teeth to engage the wire strandsof the stock and arranged with the abrupt shoulders of said ratchetteeth faced forwardly in'the direction of feed and a holddown memberengaging the stock at the opposite side of the same from said feedmember and having reversely faced ratchet teeth with the abrupt shoulderof the same faced rearwardly in the direction of feed to receive thestrands advanced by the feed member to then hold such strands inadvanced position while the reciprocating feed member retreats to takefresh hold on the stock.

23. In a machine of the character disclosed, a guide for strip stock andopposed holding and feeding means for stock in said guide, including areciprocating feed member operating in said guide and toothed to engageand positively advance strands of zigzag wire stock in the guide onmovement in a forward direction and to discharge and release saidstrands on movement in the reverse direction and an opposed memberreversely toothed to permit said forward movement of the wire strandsadvanced by said feed 4 member and to hold said strands in advancedposition in the return movement of the feed member, said feed member andopposed holding member being relatively yieldable in respect to eachother to enable advancing and holding action described.

24. In a machine of the character disclosed, cooperating stepped bendingdies for progressively forming stranded wire strip stock intosubstantially C-shape, means for intermittently approaching andseparating said stepped bending dies, m eans for intermittently'feedinga strip of zigzag wire stock between said stepped bending dies and meanscarried by said bending dies for inwardly creasing the intermediateportion of said substantially c-shaped formed stock.

-25. In a ,machine of the character disclosed, cooperatingintermittently bending dies for forming stranded wire strip stock intosubstantially C-shape, with the ends of such stock separated to receivematerial to be bound and means for intermittently creasing theintermediate portion of saidsubstantialiy c-shaped formed wire stockinwardly in the reverse direction into substantially E-shape form tolocate a hinging point in the back of the stock and to further separatethe ends of the stock.

CHARLES C. CRUZAN.

